National Republican., 1887-09-01
ReJoinder of MIR. Crane,

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: Mr.
j. ID. Petty, In this mornings REPUBLICAN,
makes what he terms ian explanation" IL
which he shows an increase IN water rent.
for the year 1885 Of 50, 1876. IA over those OF
1884. He makes this out by showing tina
$5,25S.21 were received in 1884 Of the watpi
rents Of 1885. He then gives tho "actua
amount collected on account Of 1885 as
$123. .7S5 Al"
While he has seemingly made a showing
In favor OF 1885 over 1884 he has, as told
him, simply got from one hole into another
as by swelling the receipts OF 1885 up to
Sl23, 1854, he comes In contact with Capt
Symons's receipts for 1886 which are given
In the captains report for 1886 as $l2i,
96S.lS; deduct Mr. Petty's report for 1885
sl23, 7s5 al, and We have but 81 ,lS2. a. II
1886 over the receipts for 1885. There wer,
issued 1.G77 taps for the year 1886, which
should bring in, at an average of SO 10
each water taker, $40 O62 for water rent,
for the year 1886 over those for tue yea
1885.
1t will be seen that Mr.. Petty has onl,
made matters worse by this explanation
He does not touch on the discrepsnc,
which showed In water rents, between tn
years 1881 and 1882, which were much
greater than during the years he tries t.
explain,
The receipts given for the year 1881
were Sl09,679.5s, while those for 1882 wer,
only $lOl69560, showing that for the yea
1851 S1,9S3 9S more was collected for, " ate
rents than in 1889. During this time ther-
were taken on Cos new water takers, whici
should bring In an additional revenue o
1880, which swells the discrepancy +,
Sl1,7l3.os. 1t may be that he will be abl,
to explain this In the same way. IL so, II
goes to show that people we're uncom monl,
Hush with money those years.
Citizens are not inclined to pay Their
taxes until due. L met with no such peo
pie while l was In the water Office as Mr.
Petty spoke Of. Such instances should Civ,
encouragement to the tax collector. l.
would seem to be about enough for peopl,
to nay their water rent whole year in ad
vance without anticipating 1t month be
fore 1t Is asked for, especially as there Is no
discount for advance payment OF watsr
rents.
There Is another way Of getting at this,
which is by taking the water rents of the
whole three years-lSS5, 1886, 1887. w,
will take Mr.. Petty's statement that the
water rents were S123, 1854 for 1885, In
stead Of $1ls,527,20, as published in the
commissioners report, and see II this will
help out much.
Wafer rents for 1886. sl2a 7s5 Il
Water rents for ls>6.................. lli,0BS l.
wafer rents Tor lSS7"-............... 1850 Il
This shows that the receipts for water
rents In 1887 were $l4, 1856 more than for
1855. There were taken on during the
time 4,s35 new water takers, which, at an
average Of SO each, should bring In an addi-
tionai revenue Of 300, showing, II these
figures are correct, deficiency In water
rents OF $l4, 245 since 1885. This result is
reached by assuming that none OF the water
rents returned for 1887 belong to the year
1888. But II $5, ,25S 81 was collected in 1881
on account of 1885, why may not the SAM
thing have occurred In 1887? In view OF
the "bulldozing" that was commenced on
water takers three months ago, this thing
would be quite as likely to have occurred
during the month of June, 1887, as In the
month Of June, 1884.
But this matter Of water rents Is light IN
comprison with the question OF water
main taxes. The reports show that the
commissioners have not got in enougn
from water main assessments during the
past nine years to pay the cost of laying
the mains when, II the assessments wer,
honestly made and collected, profit tu
the corporation would be shown during
that time OF over $500, 200.
We have been trying for months to hav.
this explained, but for reasons best knows
to themselves, tho commissioners remair
silent on the subject and persist In dodging
the issue, and in giving inform ,tion not
called for. j. A. GRAMS,
AUG. 81, 1887.